Store owner sentenced for racketeering

Members of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department assist the Indiana Gaming Commission in serving a search warrant at the Bargain Bin, 6455 E. Jackson St. in August 2013. The raid followed an investigation of illegal gambling at the business. The store’s owner on Tuesday was sentenced after pleading guilty to corrupt business influence and fraud.(Photo: The Star Press)Buy Photo

MUNCIE – The owner of a Liberty Township discount store on Tuesday offered his apologies after a judge accepted his guilty pleas to two felony charges.

Robert Steinhall, 41, Eaton, faced charges stemming from an August 2013 raid at the Bargain Bin, 6455 E. Jackson St.

Steinhall pleaded guilty to corrupt business influence — more commonly referred to as racketeering — and fraud.

Delaware Circuit Court 5 Judge Thomas Cannon Jr. accepted the terms of a plea bargain that called for Steinhall to be sentenced to two years on probation.

“All I can say is I’m sorry,” Steinhall told the judge. “It’s something stupid I did. ... I’m ashamed of what I did.”

Officials with the Indiana Gaming Commission launched an investigation in the spring of 2013 after receiving a complaint of illegal gambling at the Bargain Bin.

Agents with the IGC went to the store and saw two pull-tab machines and a “stand-up device” that offered customer’s “Colts” pull-tabs.

During the August 2013 raid, authorities said they also seized products alleged to be so-called “designer drugs,” designed to mimic the effects of controlled substances such as marijuana and methamphetamine.

Defense attorney Christopher Gilley, of Anderson, on Tuesday told the judge that Steinhall — who had no prior criminal record — was “extremely remorseful” and unlikely to commit future crimes.

Deputy Prosecutor Doug Mawhorr said he believed the plea agreement — which saw three other charges dismissed — was “fair and appropriate.”

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.